The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on Friday identified the two operators in a May 18 crash in Nobleboro.

The preliminary investigation has determined Alton Johnson, 61, of Warren was operating a 2006 Harley Davison motorcycle northbound on Route One when he entered the southbound travel lane and struck a 2017 Kenworth commercial vehicle being operated by David Gallagher, 41, of Damariscotta.  The vehicle Gallagher was operating was owned by Lincoln County and is used to transport items connected to its recycling operation in Wiscasset.

Gallagher was treated and released the day of the crash from the Lincoln Health Miles Campus in Damariscotta. Johnson was transported by ambulance to the same hospital and later transported by Lifeflight to Maine Medical Center in Portland with a serious leg injury and other internal injuries that do not appear life-threatening at this time.

Deputies have not been able to interview Johnson to determine why his motorcycle entered the wrong lane.  They hope to do so in the next several weeks based on his medical condition.

Although the investigation will continue into this crash to determine a cause, criminal charges appear unlikely. 

Original post: At about 12:41 p.m. Thursday, May 18, Lincoln County sheriff’s deputies responded to a crash on Route One in Nobleboro between its intersections with Center Street and Winslow Hill Road.  This crash involved a 2017 Kenworth commercial vehicle and a 2006 Harley Davison motorcycle.  

A preliminary investigation has determined the motorcycle was operating northbound on Route One and the commercial vehicle was traveling south.  As the motorcycle negotiated a slight curve in the roadway, it crossed the center line traveling north in the southbound lane.  The motorcycle then struck the commercial vehicle in the southbound travel lane. 

The operator of the commercial vehicle was not injured.  The operator of the motorcycle sustained serious, life-threatening injuries and was transported to LincolnHealth’s Miles Campus by Central Lincoln County Ambulance.  

A deputy from the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office is currently reconstructing the crash scene and a State Police Commercial Vehicle unit is also on scene to examine the commercial vehicle as is required by law.

Due to the seriousness of the crash, deputies will be attempting to obtain blood samples from both operators. Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor.

Because deputies are still actively investigating the crash and interviewing witnesses, the names of the operators were not immediately released.  Further information was expected to be released Friday, May 19, once the preliminary investigation concluded and the medical condition of the motorcycle operator was clearer. 

Lincoln County deputies were assisted at the scene by the Knox and Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Offices, the Maine State Police, Waldoboro Fire and EMS, Nobleboro and Damariscotta fire departments and Central Lincoln County Ambulance.